Air heater



March 24, 1931. RATNER 1,797,927

AIR HEATER Filed March 12, 1928 IN V EN TOR.

Abraham Rafrler BY 63km ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 PATEN'I? OFFICE ABRAHAM RATHER, OF NEW YORK, Y.

AIR HEATER Application filed March 12,

This invention relates to air heating means and more particularly to a device portable in type adapted to be used for tempering out door air prior to its entrance within an en- 6 closure.

The object of the invention is to provide a compact air heater of comparatively little weight, and equipped with an electrical heat ing element or water heating means serving a series of air passages constructed of highly conductive material.

For physiological reasons it is very desirable to have some outdoor air continually circulating within an enclosure where people congregate. However, to prevent drafts as well as prevent a'fall in temperature, under winter conditions, the incoming outdoor air should not be introduced at a lower temperature, or at least at a temperature appreciably lower than the existing one. Further, if it is desired to obtain a circulation of outdoor air and use said air as a heating medium, tempering is demanded requiring heating of the air, quickly and without undue losses. The

invention seeks to carry out such objects.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a removable container device through which air courses and is adapted to be readily heated by a heating medium in association with series of metal corrugations in the form of passages for the air.

Further features for routing the air, read ily heating the passages, and advantages in the construction of the device, assembly of its component parts, and its operation, will be apparent from the following description of one form of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front view of the device, showing some of the interior structure in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a top view of a cross-section through the device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device shown in position with respect to a window opening, and

Fig. 4 shows one form of employing a heating means within the device.

50 Considering all the figures, numeral 5 des- 1928. Seriai No. eeiaii.

ignates a container substantially rectangular in form adapted to be removably positioned, as a portable device, with respect to a window opening or the like. The device may be constructed of any suitable material, and if a conductor is used it will preferably be insulated by asbestos or other suitable lining. The form of the device or its material may be varied to suit engineering requirements or anysuitable scheme of interior decoration.

Device 5 has an inlet 1), as illustrated, wherein air may be 'intaken for passage through the device. Outlet a is located, preferably diagonally across from the device at the opposite diagonal extremity, as illustrated. The location of inlet and outlet may be changed, the illustration merely showing one desirable manner of forming a passageway affording a large surface area for heating the air. The passageway 6 is constructed ofa metal of high conductivity, such as sheet copper, and is arranged in corrugations as shown so that a comparatively large surface area is exposed within the confining walls of the device. As illustrated, the course 7 of the air will follow the arrows. Heating element cl may be an electrical resistance of suitable design, or any analogous means, positioned proximate to the discharge end of the device. Thus, the cold air intaken from outdoors will meet the coldest part of the passageway as it enters, and as it warms up in its passage to the outlet, will progressively meet surfaces of greater temperature. The space 0 substantially surrounds the passageway and hence affords ready access to the walls of the passageway of the heat emanated y (Z. If desired, heating element-e may be employed, either alone, or in combination with a water chamber, so that a preheating effect may be imparted to the incoming air.

The operation of the device is self-evident. It will be positioned, as for example shown in Fig. 3, so that it will have a projection 7 or the like integral with the walls of opening a and extending within an aperture of a frame 8. If desired, a metal screen or suitable appliance may beemployed in combination witha window sash so that extension 7 1 will fit within an aperture of said screen.

The construction is such that air will have access within the enclosure only through opening a. As it proceeds through the passageway it will be heated progressively, emerging through outlet (Z within the enclosure to be served. It will be understood that any suitable control device may be employed in combination with the resistance means 65 or with 6.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the (iii generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements. of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of lan uage, might be said to fall therebetween.

W hat I claim is:

1. Means for heating fresh air comprising a portable container adapted to be positioned in combination with a window opening, a passageway for providing a tortuous course for air within the container, the passageway being constructed of conductive material, a heating element within the container adj acent the outlet thereof, heat therefrom being adapted to substantially surround the passageway, an inlet to and an outlet from the container connected to the passageway, the inlet having an extension adapted to fit remov-ably within an aperture of corresponding form.

2. A portable ventilating device comprising an enclosure adapted to be positioned in combination with a window opening, an air inlet to the enclosure having an extension designed to fit within an aperture of corresponding form, an enclosed passageway of zigzag conformation within the enclosure and connected to the'inlet, an outlet from said passageway located substantially diagonally opposite from the inlet, said inlet, outlet and passageway being made of conductive material, and a heating means within the en closure adjacent to the outlet end of the passageway. V

3. A'ventilating device comprising a portable container, an extension at one end thereof providing an inlet to a passageway within the container, said passageway comprising a zigzag conformation of conductive material for permitting air intaken through the inlet to proceed in a tortuous course through the device, said passageway and inlet providing an enclosure within the container, an outlet from the passageway, and a heating means without the passageway and adjacent the outlet.

4. A ventilating device comprising a con- 

